OCCULT HAEMOTHORAX: TUBE THORACOTOMY OR CONSERVATIVE MANAGEMENT? A STUDY IN A TERTIARY HEALTHCARE CENTER

Abstract

Intrapleural blood detected by computed tomography scan, but not evident on plain chest radiograph, denes occult hemothorax. This study determined the role for tube thoracostomy. The ER management of Haemothorax depends on their etiology, their size, and clinical stability of the patient. The term occult Haemothorax (OH) is a Haemothorax that is not suspected on the basis of clinical examination or initial chest radiography, but is later detected on computed tomography (CT) scan. Some Physicians favour placement of a ICD tube for patients with OH, while others favour close observation without chest drainage. This study was conducted both to determine the incidence of OH and to describe its current treatment status in the chest trauma population at an Indian tertiary trauma centre